Read Online Hope Callaghan - Garden Girls 03 - Smoky Mountain Mystery by Hope Callaghan - Free Book Online Page B

her off.  “What do you know?”
    “That that old jar belongs to a moonshine distillery back from the prohibition days and it’s somewhere here in Cross Creek.  Exactly where, I don’t know yet.” She motioned behind her at the store.  “I’m hoping these folks might be able to shed some light on it.  After all, this town’s not that big.”
      Liz was impatient to get going and still plenty aggravated with Gloria.  She grabbed her arm and tried pulling her forward.  “Well, let’s go find out!”
    Gloria yanked her arm from Liz’s grip.  “Hang on there, fancy pants.  We need to show them the Mason jar.” She sauntered over to Anabelle and carefully pulled the small jar from the back seat.  She returned to where Margaret and Liz were waiting.  “Where’s your jar?”
    Liz dropped her head and gazed at Gloria sheepishly.  “I left it back at the hotel,” she mumbled.
    Gloria shook her head.  “Great detective you’d make.”
    “You had me so cranked up, I completely forgot,” Liz answered in her own defense.
    Gloria just shook her head.  No sense in arguing.  Not with Liz.  On top of that, she didn’t like snapping at anyone, including Liz.  She sighed heavily as she pulled the door open.  Maybe she was just overly-tired and it was making her cranky. 
    Determined not to ruin their adventure, she made an effort to patch things over. She forced a smile and held the door for the other two.
    The clerk stepped up behind the counter.  “Back again?”
    Gloria shook her head.  “We never left.” She set the Mason jar down on the small counter.  “Is there anyone here that knows the history of the old moonshine distilleries in the area?”
    The man nodded.  “I could probably help you out.  Lived here all my life.  My great-granddaddy was a bootlegger.”
    Gloria tapped the top of the jar.  “Any idea where we might find this old distillery?  I did a little research and it’s from Blue Valley moonshine here in Cross Creek.”
    The man carefully picked up the jar and flipped it over.  “Well, I’ll be darned.  I didn’t know there were any of these old jars left.” He turned it back over and gently set it back down.  “Yeah.  I’m not sure what’s left of the old place.  Haven’t been up there in years but I can tell you how to get there.”
    Their first big break!  Gloria nodded.  “Yes, please!”
    “It’s out on Thornbush Road.” He pointed out the door and motioned to the left.  “Go out to the stop sign. Turn left.  You’ll go a spell down this road and then you’ll see a big oak tree on the right.  Cross over a narrow wooden bridge that covers the creek.  After the creek, there’ll be a fork in the road.  Veer to the right.  The road’ll turn into pretty much a dirt path.  Keep going for another quarter mile and you’ll see the old Henderson barn straight ahead.”
    Gloria grabbed the moonshine and headed for the door.  “Thanks for your help!”
    The man watched the three women as they made their way out the door.  “Just be careful out there,” he warned.  “Some of the locals say the old place is haunted.”
    Margaret closed her eyes.  She wished she hadn’t heard that last little bit.  “Maybe this isn’t such a good idea,” she whispered loudly.
    “Don’t be such a scaredy cat, Margaret.” Liz pulled her keys from her purse.  “I’ll drive.”  She pointed at poor Anabelle parked next to Liz’s shiny car. “I don’t want to end up stranded on the side of the road in your bucket of rust.”
    Gloria refused to let Liz get under her skin.  “Fine with me.” She was perfectly happy to let Liz take her fancy new car out on the back country roads.
    “Mally’s coming with us.” It was a statement, not a question. No way would Gloria leave her dog behind.
    Liz shrugged.  “Suit yourself.” She actually didn’t mind.  She secretly really liked Mally.  At least she didn’t argue and fuss at her like her